乙肝病毒核心蛋白病毒样颗粒作为载体在表位疫苗中的应用

乙型肝炎病毒核心抗原(hepatitis B core antigen,HBcAg)是由乙型肝炎病毒(Hepatitis B virus,HBV) C基因编码的病毒蛋白,是HBV的衣壳蛋白,主要存在于HBV核衣壳表面。乙肝病毒核心蛋白(hepatitis B virus core protein,HBc)来源于HBcAg,由183或185个氨基酸组成。由于HBc本身具有高度的免疫原性,并且可携带自身或外源病原体的抗原/表位在体外自组装成病毒样颗粒,20世纪80年代开始HBc就被用于疫苗载体的研究。现对HBc近年来作为载体在表位疫苗中的应用作一概述。     

大口黑鲈脂代谢相关基因NPY、UCP2、LPL、HL克隆与分子进化分析

采用RT-PCR和RACE方法克隆了大口黑鲈NPY基因cDNA全序列及UCP2、LPL、HL基因cDNA核心片段。序列分析结果表明,大口黑鲈NPY基因cDNA全序列长664 bp,其中5′端非翻译区(5′-UTR)长53 bp,3′端非翻译区(3′-UTR)长311 bp,开放阅读框(ORF)长300 bp,编码99个氨基酸,即前体NPY。大口黑鲈前体NPY包括三个部分,28个氨基酸组成的信号肽、36氨基酸组成的成熟NPY以及32个氨基酸组成的由Gly-Lys-Arg指示的NPY C端肽（CPON）。大口黑鲈UCP2、LPL、HL基因cDNA核心片段长度分别为737 bp、509 bp和666 bp,各自编码245个氨基酸、169个氨基酸和222个氨基酸。将4个基因的氨基酸序列分别与其他物种的氨基酸序列进行同源性比较,并通过MEGA3构建系统树,对这4个脂代谢相关基因的分子进化特征进行了探讨。     

cmv-3′LTR嵌合启动子对逆转录病毒载体MFG滴度及外源基因表达的影响

为减轻逆转录病毒载体介导的外源基因的沉默,进一步提高逆转录病毒载体MFG介导的外源基因的表达水平,同时探讨逆转录病毒3′端长末端重复序列(long terminalrepeat,LTR)内U3区对病毒基因表达的影响,将逆转录病毒载体3′端LTR内的U3区用cmv核心增强子、启动子序列替代,同时去除了3个与逆转录病毒载体启动子甲基化有关的序列NCR、DR,并以egfp为报告基因,构建了MFG egfp和MFG egfp cmv表达载体。结果显示:利用cmv启动子替代MFG载体3′端LTR的U3启动子序列,会显著降低MFG载体的病毒滴度及其介导的外源报告基因的表达。提示利用cmv启动子替代病毒载体的3′端LTR内的U3区,并不是提高MoMLV(moloneymurineleukemivirus)逆转录病毒载体介导外源基因的表达及其病毒滴度的理想策略。结果也同时提示:在MoMLV逆转录病毒3′端LTR的U3区,可能存在与病毒RNA加工、成熟及稳定性有关的信号序列。     

通过乙型肝炎病毒核心基因5''''端的修饰使核心抗原在大肠杆菌中高效表达

为了使乙型肝炎病毒核心抗原(HBcAg)在大肠杆菌中获得高效表达,本文首次采用一种新方法对核心基因前区进行改造与修饰,即用限制性内切酶Taq I从核心基因内部5′端切开,去除核心基因起始信号ATG及ATG 5′端上游的全部前核心区(Precore),再化学合成一段既包含核心基因起始信号又具有多种功能的DNA片段。将两者拼接重组到表达载体pUC9上,转化受体菌,成功地获得高效表达HBcAg的菌株。用ELISA法检测,表达滴度为1:80000。表达产量占菌体总蛋白的16％。其菌体裂解液经免疫电镜观察,可见到成堆聚集的典型HBcAg颗粒。抗原单体分子量约为22000道尔顿,双体为44000。与目前国内外所普遍采用的方法比较,本文的方法有许多明显的优点,可用于其它基因改造。     

核糖体结合位点序列对大肠杆菌中HBcAg重组质粒表达的影响

用Bal-31外切酶调整乙肝病毒核心抗原(HBcAg)基因非编码区长度并克隆到质粒pKK 223-3中,获得了不同水平地表达HBcAg的重组质粒pKL系统。该系统所表达的HBcAg蛋白分子量为21000D。DNA序列分析发现高、中、低表达水平的3个重组质粒的SD序列到HBcAg基因的ATG之间的距离分别为12bp、13bp和19bp,高、低表达质粒的mRNA核糖体结合位点序列的二级结构分析显示,二者的自由能相差约3倍,且低表达质粒的mRNA的SD序列中的3个碱基及AUG中的3个碱基都参与配对,而高表达质粒只有SD序列中的2个碱基参与配对,表明SD序列到ATG的距离及mRNA的二级结构均在HBcAg的表达调控中起重要作用。     

蓖麻蚕线粒体基因组细胞色素氧化酶亚基Ⅲ的序列及其分子进化分析

测定了蓖麻蚕Samia cynthia ricini线粒体基因组(mtDNA)含完整的细胞色素氧化酶亚基Ⅲ(COX3)、tRNA-Gly和部分的NADH亚基Ⅲ(ND3)基因的DNA片段序列。COX3基因编码框包含789个核苷酸,编码262个氨基酸的蛋白质。通过同源性比较,发现COX3基因的3′端比5′端要保守,其编码的蛋白在C端有两个保守序列存在。COX3的下游为66 bp的tRNA-Gly基因。蓖麻蚕的COX3与家蚕COX3同源性最高,核苷酸和氨基酸序列同源性分别是80.2%和85.6%。根据COX3氨基酸序列进行了12种无脊椎动物的分子进化树分析,认为在采用线粒体基因序列进行分子进化分析时,应该综合考虑物种的繁殖模式及生态特点。     

中华蜜蜂蜂毒镇静肽基因的cDNA克隆和表达

从中华蜜蜂 (Apisceranacerana)工蜂毒腺中快速抽提总RNA ,用RT PCR扩增得到大小约为2 5 0bp的cDNA片段 ,测序得到的片段长度为 2 34bp ,为蜂毒前镇静肽原 (preprosecapin)基因编码区的cDNA .以 3′RACE方法 ,扩增和测定了 3′端非编码区 2 19bp序列 .中蜂前镇静肽原cDNA序列与已报道的欧洲意蜂该基因cDNA序列具有 92 %同源性 ,氨基酸序列具有 87%同源性 .代表成熟肽镇静肽的最后 2 5个氨基酸序列 ,中蜂与意蜂同源性为 88% .3′端非编码区cDNA序列与欧洲意蜂序列有 73 1%同源性 .将中华蜜蜂蜂毒镇静肽成熟肽编码区与 3′非编码区部分克隆 ,构建了镇静肽与谷胱甘肽转移酶融合表达的载体pGEX AcSecapin .将载体转化大肠杆菌BL2 1(DE3)进行融合表达 .表达产物与抗GST抗体在 2 9kD处有很强的交叉反应 .大肠杆菌超声破碎后的上清液用SDS PAGE检测到表达的蛋白多为可溶性融合蛋白 ,通过亲和层析柱纯化和凝血酶的切割得到了镇静肽蛋白     

红树林植物木榄水通道基因的克隆和表达

根据植物水通道基因保守区设计简并引物,采用RT-PCR方法,从木榄树叶中分离出水通道基因的cDNA片段;3′RACE获得3′端cDNA序列;再经5′RACE获得5′端部分cDNA序列,命名为PIP2,GenBank登录号为EF126757。该基因全长843个碱基,编码281个氨基酸,具有典型的植物水通道基因结构。该基因编码的蛋白质与含羞草(PIP2;5)、欧洲葡萄(PIP)、拟南芥(PIP3)等水通道蛋白的同源性分别为90%、91%、88%。Northern杂交分析表明,该基因在木榄树不同器官中的表达差异明显:根部有较高的表达水平,茎部较弱,而在叶中只能检测到微弱的信号。     

番木瓜环斑病毒华南强株系cDNA文库的构建及其基因组3''''端区域结构的研究

以λ-ZAPⅡ噬菌体为载体,构建了番木瓜环斑病毒华南强株系(PRV-SM)基因组cDNA文库。以PCR扩增的外壳蛋白(CP)基因为探针筛选出阳性克隆。酶谱和序列分析确定,其中两个阳性克隆除重叠部分外为长达2676个核苷酸的基因组3′端区域。其中包括棱内含体蛋白b(NIb)基因的1607个棱苷酸,CP基因的858个核苷酸和基因组3′端非编码区的211个核苷酸(不包括polyA尾巴)。PRV-SM的NIb含有依赖于RNA的RNA聚合酶的8个特征性保守序列,可能是参与基因组RNA复制的核心亚基。与其他株系比较,NIb的氨基酸变化主要集中在其C端和N端。PRV-SM 3′端非编码区有一段28个核苷酸的正向重复序列,能在其内形成茎环二级结构,并且在各株系间具有高度保守性。NIb,CP和3′端非编码区的总的序列比较表明,SM株系与国外报道的其他株系亲缘关系相对较远。     

乙肝病毒核心抗原基因在大肠杆菌中的表达

根据乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)DNA全基因组克隆pHBV-NC的酶切图谱,分别用限制性内切酶HincⅡ-AvaⅠ和BgLⅡ剪切pHBV—NC_1-DNA,获得了两种不同长度HBV核心抗原基因片段:HBcAgⅠ片段和HBcAgⅡ片段。用带有P_R启动子的质粒pCQV2和带有Lac启动子的质粒pUR222与HBcAgⅠ段和HBcAgⅡ片段连接,分别转化到大肠杆菌中,获得了三种不同的表达菌株,命名为pHBcAgⅠ、pHBcAgⅡ和pLcAgⅡ,并对其核心抗原的表达量做了比较。     

Identification of two separable modules in the duck hepatitis B virus core protein.

Hepadnavirus replication requires the concerted action of the polymerase and core proteins to ensure packaging of the RNA pregenome and DNA maturation. The arginine-rich C terminus of the core protein plays an essential role in both of these steps while being dispensable for nucleocapsid formation. In an attempt to identify other functional domains of the core protein, we performed a series of trans-complementation experiments analyzing the ability of duck and human hepatitis B virus (DHBV and HBV) core protein subunits to support the replication of a core-defective DHBV genome. Plasmids expressing the N-terminal amino acids 1 to 67 or the remaining C-terminal portion, amino acids 67 to 262, of the DHBV core protein were cotransfected into LMH cells along with a replication-deficient construct coding for the DHBV pregenome and polymerase. Neither the N nor the C terminus alone yielded replication-competent core particles. However, cotransfection of plasmids that separately expressed both regions restored a normal replication pattern. Furthermore, the DHBV C terminus but not the N terminus could be replaced by the corresponding domain of the HBV core protein in this assay. Finally, coexpression of the complete HBV core protein and the N terminus from DHBV resulted in DHBV replication, while the HBV core protein alone was not functional. Taken together, these findings suggest a modular organization of the DHBV core protein in which the C terminus is functionally conserved among different hepadnaviruses.     

外源高表达PC-1蛋白N端43个氨基酸可加速人前列腺癌细胞系C4-2的生长

研究PC-1蛋白N端43个氨基酸表达对人前列腺癌细胞C4—2生长的影响。用DNA重组技术将含PC—1蛋白N端43个氨基酸的DNA序列正向克隆到真核表达载体pIRES2-EGFP中,采用脂质体法将重组质粒稳定转染进C4—2细胞中,RT—PCR分析外源序列的转录情况,固相ELISA法测定PC—1蛋白N端43个氨基酸的表达,MTT实验分析细胞的生长速度。结果获得了稳定转染PC—J基因N端43个氨基酸的前列腺癌细胞株,在该细胞株中外源PC—1蛋白N端43个氨基酸得到高表达,细胞生长速度较对照细胞加快了38％。结果表明外源PC—I基因N端43个氨基酸高表达可提高人前列腺癌细胞C4—2的生长速度,推论PC—J基因高表达可能在人前列腺癌的发展中起一定的促进作用。     

Nucleotide sequence analysis establishes the role of endogenous murine leukemia virus DNA segments in formation of recombinant mink cell focus-forming murine leukemia viruses.

The sequence of 363 nucleotides near the 3' end of the pol gene and 564 nucleotides from the 5' terminus of the env gene in an endogenous murine leukemia viral (MuLV) DNA segment, cloned from AKR/J mouse DNA and designated as A-12, was obtained. For comparison, the nucleotide sequence in an analogous portion of AKR mink cell focus-forming (MCF) 247 MuLV provirus was also determined. Sequence features unique to MCF247 MuLV DNA in the 3' pol and 5' env regions were identified by comparison with nucleotide sequences in analogous regions of NFS -Th-1 xenotropic and AKR ecotropic MuLV proviruses. These included (i) an insertion of 12 base pairs encoding four amino acids located 60 base pairs from the 3' terminus of the pol gene and immediately preceding the env gene, (ii) the deletion of 12 base pairs (encoding four amino acids) and the insertion of 3 base pairs (encoding one amino acid) in the 5' portion of the env gene, and (iii) single base substitutions resulting in 2 MCF247 -specific amino acids in the 3' pol and 23 in the 5' env regions. Nucleotide sequence comparison involving the 3' pol and 5' env regions of AKR MCF247 , NFS xenotropic, and AKR ecotropic MuLV proviruses with the cloned endogenous MuLV DNA indicated that MCF247 proviral DNA sequences were conserved in the cloned endogenous MuLV proviral segment. In fact, total nucleotide sequence identity existed between the endogenous MuLV DNA and the MCF247 MuLV provirus in the 3' portion of the pol gene. In the 5' env region, only 4 of 564 nucleotides were different, resulting in three amino acid changes between AKR MCF247 MuLV DNA and the endogenous MuLV DNA present in clone A-12. In addition, nucleotide sequence comparison indicated that Moloney-and Friend-MCF MuLVs were also highly related in the 3' pol and 5' env regions to the cloned endogenous MuLV DNA. These results establish the role of endogenous MuLV DNA segments in generation of recombinant MCF viruses.     

Plasma cell membrane glycoprotein PC-1. cDNA cloning of the human molecule, amino acid sequence, and chromosomal location

The murine cell membrane glycoprotein PC-1 is a homodimer with restricted tissue distribution, being first characterized in plasma cells. We now describe the isolation of cDNA clones encoding the human homolog of the murine PC-1 protein, its complete amino acid sequence, and its chromosomal location. Overall, the amino acid sequence of the human protein is about 80% identical to the murine protein, although the extent of homology varies in different domains. It had not been possible to assign a definitive amino terminus to the murine protein. Comparison of the murine and human sequence necessitates reassignment of the amino terminus, resulting in a cytoplasmic tail of 24 amino acids rather than 58 amino acids as previously published for the mouse. The sequence of several independently obtained cDNA clones indicates that the 3' end of the mRNA is subject to alternative splicing. Southern blots suggest a single copy gene. In situ chromosomal hybridization localizes the gene for human PC-1 to chromosome 6q22-q23, a common site for deletions in human lymphoid neoplasia.     

小麦TaCRC基因的克隆及表达分析

以小麦心皮为材料,利用RT-PCR方法分离出一个新的YABBY基因TaCRC,并利用Northern杂交对TaCRC在不同组织中的表达模式进行分析.结果显示:该基因全长1 105 bp,编码199个氨基酸.TaCRC具有YABBY家族典型的结构域,即N端含有C2C2锌指结构域,C端含有YABBY结构域.其氨基酸序列与水稻的 DROOPING LEAF(DL)、拟南芥的CRABS CLAW(CRC)和金鱼草的AmCRC的氨基酸具有较高的一致性.TaCRC在心皮中特异表达,类似于拟南芥的CRC的表达模式.研究表明,TaCRC是小麦中的CRC同源基因.     

Structure of the horseradish peroxidase isozyme C genes

We have isolated, cloned and characterized three cDNAs and two genomic DNAs corresponding to the mRNAs and genes for the horseradish (Armoracia rusticana) peroxidase isoenzyme C (HPR C). The amino acid sequence of HRP C1, deduced from the nucleotide sequence of one of the cDNA clone, pSK1, contained the same primary sequence as that of the purified enzyme established by Welinder [FEBS Lett. 72, 19-23 (1976)] with additional sequences at the N and C terminal. All three inserts in the cDNA clones, pSK1, pSK2 and pSK3, coded the same size of peptide (308 amino acid residues) if these are processed in the same way, and the amino acid sequence were homologous to each other by 91-94%. Functional amino acids, including His40, His170, Tyr185 and Arg183 and S-S-bond-forming Cys, were conserved in the three isozymes, but a few N-glycosylation sites were not the same. Two HRP C isoenzyme genomic genes, prxC1 and prxC2, were tandem on the chromosomal DNA and each gene consisted of four exons and three introns. The positions in the exons interrupted by introns were the same in two genes. We observed a putative promoter sequence 5' upstream and a poly(A) signal 3' downstream in both genes. The gene product of prxC1 might be processed with a signal sequence of 30 amino acid residues at the N terminus and a peptide consisting of 15 amino acid residues at the C terminus.     

Naturally occurring escape mutants of hepatitis B virus with various mutations in the S gene in carriers seropositive for antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA was extracted from sera of six carriers with hepatitis B e antigen as well as antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen and sequenced within the pre-S regions and the S gene. HBV DNA clones from five of these carriers had point mutations in the S gene, resulting in conversion from Ile-126 or Thr-126 of the wild-type virus to Ser-126 or Asn-126 in three carriers and conversion from Gly-145 to Arg-145 in three of them; clones with Asn-126 or Arg-145 were found in one carrier. All 12 clones from the other carrier had an insertion of 24 bp encoding an additional eight amino acids between Thr-123 and Cys-124. In addition, all or at least some of the HBV DNA clones from these carriers had in-phase deletions in the 5' terminus of the pre-S2 region. These results indicate that HBV escape mutants with mutations in the S gene affecting the expression of group-specific determinants would survive in some carriers after they seroconvert to antibody against surface antigen. Carriers with HBV escape mutants may transmit HBV either by donation of blood units without detectable surface antigen or through community-acquired infection, which would hardly be prevented by current hepatitis B immuneglobulin or vaccines.     

Human interferon gamma: significance of the C-terminal flexible domain for its biological activity

The significance of the C-terminal part of human interferon gamma (hIFNgamma) for its biological activity was studied by 3(')-end gene mutagenesis. A series of nine derivative genes obtained by systemic deletion of three codons was constructed and expressed in Escherichia coli LE392. It was shown that the yield of recombinant protein gradually decreased and the solubility gradually increased with truncation of the C terminus. To avoid artifacts related to the imperfect folding of the proteins during purification, the biological activity of the hIFNgamma proteins was measured in clear cell lysates containing the soluble fractions only. The deletion of the C terminus had a two-step effect on both hIFNgamma antiviral and antiproliferative activities. Whereas the removal of the last 3, 6, and 9 C-terminal amino acids led to a gradual increase (up to 10 times) in biological activity of hIFNgamma, the deletion of more than 9 amino acids had an opposite effect. The truncation of the whole unstructured C-terminal domain resulted in a 10-fold decrease (but not in a complete loss) in biological activity of hIFNgamma. The latter was sequestered upon deletion of 24 amino acids, 3 of which belonged to the alpha-helical domain F.